The 200% World Cup: The Group A Final Round, Live!

Well, good evening again, everybody, and it’s time for the final round of group matches in Group A. There’s still all to play for for three of the teams in this group. Cameroon may well have been eliminated with a game to spare, but with Brazil and Mexico topping the table on three points and Croatia snapping at their heels on two points, any of these three teams – though probably not Brazil – could yet get eliminated at the group stages of the competition. Brazil have the easiest match, at home against a Cameroon side who didn’t look terribly impressive when they did anything to play for, but all eyes will be on the match between Mexico and Croatia. It’s almost certain that one of these two teams will be eliminated by the end of this evening, but which will it be? It’s Croatia who really need the win – anything less from them will leave them relying on what would be a very unlikely result indeed from the Brazil match.

Mexico win. Only one goal in their first 252 minutes of their matches here. But they were way more entertaining than that – and had two perfectly good goals disallowed against Cameroon.
Netherlands v Mexico and Brazil, even this Brazil, v Chile, are second round ties to which to look forward.
Now, I wonder what Ian Wright thinks of it all. Wait…no…I don’t give a toss…

Full time in Brasilia: Brazil win 4-1 and top the group. Cameroon have been dreadful all tournament and there was no change here. The fact that the hosts still made heavy weather of it should raise a few question marks about how far they can realistically get in this competition.

And I’ve got a prediction right. Rebic finds the middle of Pena’s shin-pad with his studs. Red card. Croatia, at last, beginning to live down to their ill-disciplined stereotype.
Perisic isn’t conforming, though, and forces a save from mega-permed Mexican keeper Ochoa. Fun, this game, now its ending.

The substitution of Guardado hints that Mexico weren’t over-fussed about winning the group anyway. But Croatia are still capable of shipping two goals in five-plus minutes. And, right on cue, Perisic rolls one in with his left foot. Goals, goals , goals in this World Cup. Or shite defending.

Croatian sub Rebic is denied the goal of the tournament, after a weaving run past a number of green shirts, by Moreno’s goal-line clearance. Mann’s inability to ID Rebic straight away suggests he’s commentating from a studio far, far away from Recife. But even he’s twigged that Mexico could still win the group.

An unease has gripped the crowd in Brasilia. All of Brazil’s best players have been substituted or mown down by high tackles, while Mexico have started to fill their boots and, more pertinently, their goal difference.

Whatever question Croatia are asking, Nikica Jelavic is the answer. This would be grim enough for them if Guardado hadn’t just finished off a quick break to make it 2-0, which he has.
Two more Mexico goals and Vazquez misses the game against Chile.

Looks like Vazquez will be missing the Netherlands match. Four World Cup captain Marquez heads home another non-Puto corner. The camera shot of his celebration reveals that a LOT of drink was spilled among joyous Mexican fans.

Vazquez gets some use out of the “misses next match” caption after his booking. This will either be against the Netherlands or in a parallel universe. Either way its a blow for Mexico.
Mexico boss Miguel Herrero, BTW, was able to precisely and accurately mime Srno’s handball, yet the referee, Ravshan Irmatov, fifty yards nearer didn’t believe anything of the sort happened.

Another non=penalty, Srno blocking down a Guardado shot with all the aplomb (and use of the hand) of a Gaelic Football full-back. Then Corluka clears a non-Puto corner off the line. Since Hernandez (Chicarito) came on, its been all Mexico. Fcuk all to do with him, though.

So, its time for “Manchester United’s Chicarito,” replacing Giovanni Dos Santos “once of Spurs.” EPL to the rescue. Gets such a loud reception that I thought Brazil had scored again. But no, Mexico’s fans are PLEASED TO SEE HIM… No, really.

The phrase “not enough quality in the final third” is the lazy pundit’s cliché of clichés (which is why I keep hearing it in Martin Keown’s voice). But its a neat summary of minutes 46 to 55 in Recife.

0-0 in Recife, although it was better than that for 30 minutes at least. The teams’ commitment to attack is inversely proportional to their need to win. Meanwhile, Danny Higginbotham has added his name to “the list.” The ever-lengthening one of “analysts showing up Lawrenson and Hansen for the punditry has-beens they’ve long been.” It might take a while to have complete faith in Higginbotham when he says “I don’t see where the foul is there.” And he still sounds a bit Scouse for a Mancunian. But otherwise he’s continuing Stoke City’s and ex-Stoke City’s fine World Cup.

Mexico force a number of corners, each one worse than the previous one. And Mexican skipper Marquez is booked for stopping a quick (-ish) Croatia break from the last one. Brazil’s group again, unless Mexico find their shooting boots.

Joel Matip turns in the splendidly named Allan Nyom’s low cross from the left touchline. Game may very well be back on. Brazil haven’t been all that impressive so far, Cameroon are just woeful. There’s nothing wrong with their individuals, aside from the fact they can’t be bothered to play as a team.

Just a quick reminder that although the Croatia/Mexico game is being hyped as a “shoot-out”, a draw will do for Mexico. They aren’t playing for it, though. Mind you, what team in this tournament is good enough defensively to do so? Not Brazil, it would seem.

Fred nearly, nearly, nearly, nearly gets on the end of Paulinho’s cross but, just as he was about to nudge it across the line with his moustache end, the Cameroon goalkeeper decides to do some work after all. Earning his appearance fee and all that.

Goal for Brazil, by the way. Neymar from eight yards out with the Cameroon defence absent without leave. There’s not a great deal going on in this match. Croatia and Mexico looks like being a straight shoot-out – can’t see anything other than a Brazil win here.

About The Author

Ian began writing Twohundredpercent in May 2006. He lives in Brighton. He has also written for, amongst others, Pitch Invasion, FC Business Magazine, The Score, When Saturday Comes, Stand Against Modern Football and The Football Supporter. Ian was the first winner of the Socrates Award For Not Being Dead Yet at the 2010 NOPA awards for football bloggers.